Foothill High School and Amador High School soccer alumni met for the sixth year this past Sunday at Amador Valley High School for the Ryan Gordon Alumni Games and raised the most money since the games began in 2003.
The games raised $6,100, bringing the total amount since 2003 to over $36,000. Funds are donated to the men’s and women’s soccer programs at the two high schools.
Featuring male and female players from the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s and 2000s, the games were formed in honor of avid soccer player Ryan Gordon, a 2003 Foothill graduate who was killed in a jet ski accident shortly after graduating.
This year featured many family members playing together, according to organizer Curt Gordon, Ryan’s father, including siblings, couples and even a mother/daughter combination for the first time: Tessie Wagner-Pease (1981) played with her daughter Melissa (2008) for Amador and a father-son duo, Joe Carlucci, 50 and the oldest player, and his son Matt. Siblings who played together included: Valerie (2002) and Beverly Mayer (2004), Scott (1981) and Lenny McMillan (1991), Chuck (1978) and Rob Gilliam (1987), Dylan (2004) and Tyler Curtis (2003), and Scott (2008) and Jill Sweetnam (2006). Their cousin, Dan Sweetnam (2003) was also on the field in goal for Foothill. Couples included Dave Morris (1984) and Ann Peterson (1981), and Sean (1988) and Alicia Lemoine (1988).
In the first game, the Foothill women extended their win streak to two games by winning 4-0. Kim Patrick (1999) had a hat trick for Foothill. Jill Sweetnam (2003) added a goal for the winners.
The men’s side saw Amador edging Foothill 2-1. After trailing most of the game, Amador came back with two late goals by Dylan Curtis (2004). Earlier Craig Caponigro (1988) had scored for Foothill.
The halftime intermissions featured youth players from both the Pleasanton Rage and Ballistic United Soccer Club. Alumni captains Tessie Wagner Pease (Amador 1981) and Sean Lemoine (Foothill 1988), also both youth club coaches, provided the teams. Parents and friends of the kids and alumni crowded the stands. Many friends of Ryan Gordon were also in attendance.
Additionally there were 10 former teammates of Ryan Gordon’s playing in the games. Volunteers manned the snack bar, collected tickets, controlled the scoreboard and refereed the games. The Hop Yard Alehouse and All Star Sports both contributed to the cause. Each winning team was provided with a trophy that travels back and forth to each year’s winning high school. Next year’s games will be at Foothill as the venue changes between schools every year.
Interested in umpiring?
The Livermore-Pleasanton Umpires Association is seeking individuals interested in umpiring girls fast pitch and adult slow pitch softball games in the Livermore-Pleasanton area.
Training will be provided. The first meeting will be held at noon Jan. 11 at the Livermore Community Center, 4444 East Ave. Call Henry Suico, 510-701-2762 or email hsuico@comcast.net.
–Janet Pelletier
